Veterinarians are committed
to fight African swine fever
Berlin, 17 January 2020
The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) and European Association Porcine Health Management (EAPHM) welcomes the high-level international conference on „The Future of global pork production under the threat of African swine fever (ASF)“ that the European Commission is organizing today in Berlin, Germany in connection with the ‘Green Week’. This conference will bring together all stakeholders in the global pig sector to discuss and collaborate on the prevention and control of ASF.
FVE and EAPHM, representing the veterinary profession including pig veterinarians from 40 European countries, will join the conference.
The current epidemic of ASF globally is the most catastrophic disease outbreaks that ever occurred in the global pig-farming sector. It has led to the mortality and culling of millions of pigs, animal welfare problems, severe economic problems, a surge of pig prices and is threatening food security in some regions of the world.
Despite enormous efforts from all international, European and national authorities to try to contain the virus spreading, we note that it is still transmitting in feral pigs, as well as in commercial holdings in Europe and other parts of the world. Especially concerning are the translocations of African Swine Fever to previously uninfected areas at great distance from infected areas, for instance towards Western and Southern Europe. If ASF reaches the biggest pig producing countries of Europe, the consequences will be even more dramatic.
Veterinarians in affected countries are living this devastating situation daily. We are educated to solve animal health problems, but no one can solve this complex challenge on its own. Given the dramatic continuation of the situation, we urge all actors to continue and increase their efforts. FVE, in conjunction with EAPHM, offer our veterinary knowledge and working power to all governments and the whole pig sector, e.g. by distributing targeted communication tools, increasing biosecurity measures with farmers, transporters and at borders , and by offering potential solutions for veterinary shortages such as for sampling and other veterinary tasks.
FVE and EAPHM, representing the veterinary profession in Europe, are explicitly offering our help to fight ASF.